India have attempted to blunt the bounce of Australia's pacemen in the third Test with a patchwork-quilt pitch that is set to ensure an early finish in Ranchi.
Australian players and officials have adopted David Warner's "it is what it is" mantra while negotiating various challenges in the four-Test series, especially the dry decks.
But the visitors struggled to hide their disbelief upon arriving at the JSCA International Stadium Complex for the first time ahead of the third Test.
Every blade of grass had been removed from the wicket, which had lumpy sections of rough and also some parts that were soaked. The outfield also raised some eyebrows.
Ground staff initially refused to let players, staff members or media take photographs of the pitch.
Umpires and match referee Richie Richardson inspected the pitch and are satisfied it is not unsafe.
Runs will be at a premium, meaning Steve Smith and Virat Kohli's first showdown will again be crucial. The side that won the toss took the honours in the first and second Tests.
The series is level at 1-1 and there will almost certainly be a result in Ranchi, where Australia are hunting a victory that will ensure they retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
The expectation is there won't be too much uneven bounce. The slow-and-low pitch is unlikely to offer Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins much carry or rearing bounce.
"I can't really tell what it's going to do," a bleary-eyed Marcus Stoinis said, having completed his first training session after a whirlwind trip from Alice Springs to Ranchi.
"Obviously it's going to spin, apparently it won't bounce as much as some of the other wickets.
"You've just got to hit the wicket hard here and see if anything happens."
Curator SB Singh insisted he was not pressured by the The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI).
The perplexing pitch means on-duty selector Mark Waugh and coach Darren Lehmann are likely to make a last-minute call on the XI.
Cummins appears a certainty to replace Mitchell Starc. Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar and Usman Khawaja are in the mix to claim the final spot in the side.
Cummins, set to play his first Test since a memorable debut in 2011, is confident he can rattle the hosts with express pace on any surface.
"Anyone who bowls those speeds (145-150 km/h) is going to get a batsman hopping around," Cummins said.
"It is all about working in tandem with the other bowlers, especially the spinners ... not releasing that scoreboard pressure."
Hazlewood and Starc have both claimed wickets in the series with their bouncer, despite the limited assistance on offer.
A raging turner in Pune, dubbed "poor" by the match referee, meant the four-Test series opener finished inside three days.
The spiteful second Test ended on day four in Bangalore.
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